Jaffna court sentences man to death in absentia

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 December 2003, 17:29 GMT]A man accused of a murder committed twenty-two years ago was sentenced to death by the Jaffna High court last week on 10 December 2003. This is the first time in 25 years that a person from Jaffna has been sentenced to death, legal sources in the northern town told TamilNet. Sri Lanka’s judicial system became defunct in Jaffna in 1984.

The Liberation Tigers established and ran their judiciary and Police service from 1992 to 95.

Three men were accused of brutally murdering Mr. M. Premarajah in a lane near Rajah Theatre in Jaffna town on 1 November 1981. The first accused, who was sentenced in absentia, is absconding and the other two accused are dead, Police said.

The case was taken up again by the Jaffna High Court on 10 June 2002.

Mr. V. Kandasamy, the man who was sentenced to death by Jaffna High Court judge Mr. K. P. S Varatharajah, might be living abroad, Police said.